Burning. Something was indeed burning Tsuna thought in his half asleep state, nudging his face into the warmth of his extra pillow. Soft pillow...extra...extra pillow? He shot up that instant, smacking his face off his arm which hadn't yet responded to the movement. "Gah!" He was no smooth criminal that was for certain. But he was no longer in the cold cell of the block at Vongola HQ. Tsuna allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. But only a temporary one.

Because Verde had to be burning down the kitchen. For a scientific genius he never could cook. It baffled Tsuna and gave him use all the same. Practically leaping out of the bed and exerting so much energy he made it to the kitchen area a few minutes later. All of the events including yesterday had tied into the weakness of his body.

Numbly he wonders if the pills are also taking a toll for the unwanted frequency he had taken them in the past week nearly. He was aware of how absolutely dreadful he looked with scattered bruises, tired eyes and a braid which was tangled practically every which way. He'd slept in his bloodstained clothes from yesterday. However there is a greater issue at hand rather than appearance.

Choosing his words carefully he swallowed weakly. "What...what are you doing?"

Verde merely looks up with his usual bored expression despite the fact his frying pan was quite literally in flames with what had once been edible food as charred remains of a futile attempt. Now he couldn't be that bad at cooking and he isn't. But when your brilliant mind that is trapped within an infant's body is suddenly racing with solutions at one per half a second and you hop off the baby stool for five minutes to write a very specific formula it often leaves the contents unattended and thus they had this... coal.

"Breakfast." And one simple word causes him so much overwhelming confusion.

"You never cook. You always eat those instant things or convenience store snacks."

Verde holds up one tiny, tiny hand. The other is used to push his round glasses further up the bridge of his nose. Despite being a child he is not at all cute Tsuna decides by the way he receives a condescending parental glance. Gross.

"You lack the proper nutrition to fulfill anymore tasks at hand. Clearly people such as Reborn can't even competently feed a single human so now I have to."

Tsuna has begun scrutinizing the contents of the now slightly burning embers. He might die if he eats it, he is almost one hundred percent sure it will leap from the frying pan and drag itself away. "While that is true I don't think I should be eating Santa's Christmas Eve coal."

Verde folds his arms over his chest, glancing from the pan to Tsuna. "What do you propose then?" He was used to instant foods packaged or canned. The only time a proper meal was ever involved was business meetings and Tsuna's visits where he would make a meal for him.

"I'll make us tea instead."

Verde nodded settling in his custom seat. He was small so it was tall and that way he wouldn't have to use disgraceful methods in order to actually reach the counter space in which he ate. There was no need for a table. Tsuna hides a grin at the way the scientist settles in and continues his search for the tea kettle. Everything had shifted around since he last actually lived here unfortunately.

Upon finding the kettle it was filled and on the hot stove top within minutes. This would give him the time he needed to relay information. "Earl Grey? Lemon? Green tea? Pick one." He spoke aimlessly shuffling through the different kinds of tea there was.

"Chamomile." Was the curt reply. Tsuna moved aside the Earl Grey to reveal a small box containing what had been mentioned. When the kettle was screaming loud enough to hurt their ears he found the separate teacups.

"They are still in possession of the Sky ring." He wasted no time speaking up as he passed the hot cup into waiting hands.

Verde blew lightly over the surface before taking a small sip. He looked up thoughtfully if not earnestly. Tsuna knows better however and continues. "They know I'm after it. Not you of course because I never revealed your identity. They're waiting for us to come take it." Shrugging his shoulders he walks over to his own brewing cup.

He doesn't need to glance over to see the grin on the arcobelano's face. Everything was just as he's calculated. The confrontation would be undoubtedly soon if not this very night. Tsuna shivers upon realization that this information probably changed all plans of laying low.

"Then we move to plan B naturally."

Tsuna does his best to keep his hands steady. He hates this, it never becomes natural or normal. He never adjusts. Regardless of growing anxiety that festers and gnaws inside him he nods. He is still abundant in the suppressors. But he's never worn this ring. What will it do? How will it react? Will it adjust to the flames according to Verde's reports? Fear of the unknown becomes a dead weight inside him.

"When do we depart?"

"Within the next few hours."


"Don't get in my way, herbivore."

They stood, feet spread apart in a stance of confrontation. Gold eyes met grey ones in a clash of wills. She raised her hand once again and the restraining gesture she made only irritated him to the point of growing resentment.

"I'm here to talk to the baby. Not you." Kyoya's eyes narrow at the annoyed glance Kyoko clearly gives him. They never had been on good terms, she was kind and yet hopelessly irritable with all the confidence, too much for a small herbivore. Kyoya always did long to put her back in her place.

"Reborn-san is very busy...and you know that. Especially because you know who escaped before they could even get a decent evaluation." Kyoko crosses her arms over her chest in a degrading manner. Peeved.

Kyoya bristles in response. "That is why I'm here. I don't associate for fun. Move."

Before Kyoko can react he pushes past her and into the room. Easily blocking her hasty round kick. Kyoko makes a noise of distaste in which he also ignores. Striding into the room, before Reborn who sits at the table accompanied by Xanxus, Dino and a few more people he considers unsavory characters. Fon is the most surprised of all to see him there.

Kyoya speaks first. "The Committee has uncovered details as to Sawada's association and current residence." A file is carelessly tossed onto the table, twenty pages thick.

Dino, his previous tutor, slowly opens it in curiosity. Kyoya has never provided false information. It's against his being.

Reborn is clearly waiting for Dino to speak up instead of his eyes becoming irritably rounder. His previous student gulps, he hopes that Reborn will not be in a bad mood over this he surely does.

Kyoya folds his arms over his chest as he watches Cavallone slide the file over to Reborn hesitantly. "It's not exactly-"

"What the fuck."

And so all eyes turn to a clearly disgusted Reborn. "When were these photos taken and where?"

"The Disciplinary Committee agreed to humor me as an alumni and were on the lookout." Kyoya leans over and pulls out a photograph which very clearly displays bruised Tsuna carrying Verde on his shoulder and smiling. It only pisses the hitman off more. "It was taken outside of the main shopping district about a day ago. No one could intercept considering it was only an observation and not an intervention."

Reborn manages to revert back to his calm; sure self. He leans back quietly in his seat and Dino at this point is beyond unnerved. Kyoya isn't one to engage in such things but the kid was strong and he wanted a taste of it. He wants to fight the kid in dangerous combat.

"They'll turn up soon." Reborn states, flicking up the brim of his fedora.

This only confuses Dino more. "How do you know?"

The ex tutor's grin is purely malicious as he gazes at everyone in the room. Holding their breaths. An air of slight fear surrounding most.

"We have the Sky ring."


I feel like this is all just a bunch of filler/buildup but I don't want to change it. It's too late after 600 words I was dedicated. But yeah Reborn knows now and he didn't have a whiny baby fit. Yet? I'm really tired so I have to sleep but I wanted to post the update first. Things to note

1. Only two, slightly three days have passed.

2. Verde is easily distracted with his scientific duties.

3. Kyoko is going to always be kind of ooc because this is an AU where circumstances are different and so is her position? Same goes for anyone else in the story especially Tsuna because I'm sure you've noticed he isn't actually...can-do-no-wrong-Tsuna.

I hope you enjoyed and I look forward to the suffering of the next update! Please leave your thoughts!